Morning journal and courier., 1887-10-13
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. BROKEN BY THE CASHIER. The Stafford Springs Bank
 Wrecked. LITTLE LEFT FROM THE RUIN. Over A Hundred Thousand
 Gone. THE DEXTER BANK ROBBERY. Startling Confession By An
 AccOmplice.
THE DEXTER BANK ROBBERY.
THE STAFFORD BANK WRECKED.

THE STAFFORD BANK WRECKED. Cashier Hicks a DefauIter to Over SIOO.OOO-Run Down by a National Bank Examiner From Illin01s-The e Biggest Bank Dedication Ever Known in ConDecticut-The Bank VIII be Totally Ruined.
 STAFFORD SPRINGS, Ct., Oct. 12.-A great sensation was created here this afternoon when the fact became known that R. S. Hicks, cashier of the Stafford National bank, was defaulter to 8 large amount. Upon the banks door was posted notice that the institution was closed pending an inves- tigation National Bank Examiner H. A. Farman, of the district of Illinois and Mis- souri, was found at the Springs House and told the following story to the Associated Press correspondent: "On the 22d of Septem- Der was sent into this district on special service from my own district. When I ex- amined the Stafford National bank I discov- cred that cheeks had been drawn by R. s. Hicks, treasurer, on the Third National bank of Springfield, Mass, to the amount of SIS, 200. I then suspected something decidedly wrong in the banks affairs and upon fur ther investigation discovered that the cash fer had only $500 to his credit. The exact amount of the deficit can be ascertained when all checks that have been drawn on the New York and Boston banks are presented and statements rendered by those banks. The total loss to the institution will be over $100,- GOO, and of this amount the cashier confesses to having taken $73,0Oo. The capital stock of the bank is $200, 1000 and the surplus $24,- 900, while the individual profits amount to $3, GOO. A large number of false entries ap- pear on the books, consisting of statements of amounts due the bank from it's New York and Boston correspondents. The fs1sity of these entries has clearly been shown by 8 careful comparison of his books with the &C., counts of the Boston and New York banks" /" ssWhen did you arrive here2" was asked of the examiner. q came Tuesday,' replied he, accompanied by Mir. Dooley, of Hartford, my assistant, to verify the accounts. MT. Dooley will probab y have soon the entire supervision of this district. On Tuesday noon investigation justified me in stating to the comptroller by cipher that MT. Hicks ap-
  gating about $50,000 or more and that awaited his instruction. In short time re- ceived notice to place myself in communica- ton by wire with United States District At torney Lewis Stanton, of Hartford, and this morning the latter arrived in company with Nathan D. Bates, United States marshal for the district of Connecticut. MT. Stanton then stated that papers were immediately drawn under section 5,209 of the revised statutes of the United States charging K. 5. Hicks. first with heving- embezzled $5O. .Ooo of the money and funds of the institution, and second with having made upon the books of the bank on October II at the close of business, under the head of resources, false entry showing as due from the national bank of redemption of the City of Boston the sum of $55, 1884. 93, whereas the true amount thus due that date was only $5,OOO. The embeZzler was immediately arrested and placed in custody, the warrant for the arrest being endorsed by Allen Penney, United States commissioner of Norwich, Conn., The papers were at once served upon the defaulter by Marshal Bates and he was conveyed to Norwich this afternoon. The cashier WAS found in the bank at the time of his arrest, and although he had previously made a straightforward confession of his misdeed, he was Apparently somewhat em- barrassed. However, he made no resistance. The penalty for such an offense, said Mir. Stanton, is imprisonment for not less than five nor more than ten years. The next term of the United States district court will be held at Hartford on the first day of Decem- Der next and if the accused is bound over after the preliminary hearing the case will go before the grand jury"
 Around the doors of the bank to-day gath cred many people who are involved in the losses The Vermont Lumber company, of which he was treasurer, with capital stock of $10 900, is also involved to an extent un- known The latest investigation shows that the bank is practically ruined, having only $11, ,O00 in cash on hand in the vaults.
 R. s. Hicks, the defaulting cashier, was born in Holland, Ct., and has resided here about twenty years where he has without doubt built up the town to it's present flour member of the Episcopal church and in every sense public spirited citizen. He is about forty years old, is married and has been connected with the bank since 1872. In stature he is rather short and of slight physique, has dark hair and moustache and has the appearance of & smart business man. The Stafford Agricultural society, of which he has been secretary for many years, it is also believed, will be greatly involved. It is asserted that MT. Hicks has been inter ested in speculation for an extended period and this has in 8 measure been the cause of his trouble. Just where he has expended the amount he is now called upon to answer for is not at present known. L. W. Crane is president of the institution, but another vo- cation has prevented him from devoting as much attention to the affairs of the bank as he should have done. National Bank Exam iner Farman states that the dedication is one of the largest ever known in the State of Connecticut.